Compare towns
Freetown vs Hanson vs Fall River vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Freetown | Hanson | Fall River | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
10,660 |
94,082Highest |
8,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15kHighest 38% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
| Freetown and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
| Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
| Freetown and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188 13% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,452Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dighton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Whitman-Hanson | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | B M C Durfee High | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.